Buzzer beater: Jordan Carpenter reaches 1,000 career points against Gallaudet

by MIHAUGHANY REDD

Staff Writer

On Jan. 27, senior cybersecurity major Jordan Carpenter made history as the 21st player in UMW women’s basketball program history to earn 1,000 career points. Carpenter achieved this milestone on her home court while playing against Gallaudet University, leading the team to a 67–53 victory.

Carpenter spoke about how she felt in light of hitting this career mark. 

“It’s always been something I dreamed of as a little kid, so to be able to get it in college, home court buzzer beater, just makes its own little perfect story,” said Carpenter.

She continued, “It’s a big honor. It’s an accomplishment all by itself, but I feel like to be the 21st is big.”

Before the game began, Carpenter was reminded that she was only 30 points away from reaching 1,000 points. She spoke about the pressure to reach 1,000 career points as well as how she felt going into the game. 

“I’m going to be honest, I was not planning on getting it. I feel like 30 is hard to get in such a span of time, so it wasn’t even on my radar to get it that day,” said Carpenter.

By halftime, the UMW women’s basketball team was down by three points, but this didn’t stop Carpenter from stealing the ball and leading her team to a comeback against Gaulladet. Then, in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter, the team’s defensive stop against Gallaudet placed the ball in Carpenter’s hands.

“I got it running down the court, five seconds, then four seconds. It was kind of like a blackout moment. Just seeing it go in and beating the buzzer, it all seemed unreal,” said Carpenter.

Everyone rooted for Carpenter, cheering her on to victory in more ways than one. 

“I honestly almost cried because of seeing her family,” said Ashley Martin, a fifth-year marketing major and one of Carpenter’s teammates. “The way they looked at her and the way everybody was just holding up their 1,000 points signs, it was honestly one of the best feelings out there.” 

Women’s basketball head coach Deena Applebury described Carpenter as “tenacious and energetic” when she commented on her personality and hardworking nature. Applebury also spoke about Carpenter’s growth over the last few years, noting how she has embraced learning about the sport in addition to playing on the court.  

“Jordan’s IQ has grown exponentially throughout her time spent within our program from increasing her athleticism to finding new ways to elevate herself literally and figuratively,” said Applebury.

On and off the court, Carpenter’s teammates take notice of her passion, drive and leadership.

“She’s someone who brings energy and competition to everything she touches, and I believe that it motivates everyone around her, and it brings a kind of positive energy to the team that I love seeing,” said Kamari Riley, a sophomore business administration and economics double major who is also the manager of UMW’s women’s basketball team.

“Oftentimes, her leadership isn’t always vocal, but the energy she brings,” Riley continued. “People just naturally see that and want to follow it.”

Martin described Carpenter’s determination and hard work on and off the court.

“She works hard. She honestly has everybody’s back on the court. And honestly, off the court too,” she said.

Martin has been a longstanding teammate to Carpenter throughout her time playing for UMW.

“She’s grown so much since her freshman year and I honestly love seeing it,” said Martin. “She’s obviously so athletic and she gives it her all.”

But Carpenter’s successes didn’t come easily, and she explained some of the challenges she and the team have faced and worked together to overcome. 

“COVID was the biggest thing. Our biggest challenge was getting everybody on board and on the same page,” she said. “But after that, everybody’s gotten so close, and we kind of know each other like the back of our hand, so we play well together.”

Carpenter has played as a guard and a forward for all four years of her college career, but she first started playing at the YMCA when she was five years old. Once she reached middle school, she dedicated herself to the sport, and her parents pushed her to work hard, offering their support by taking her to games, training and practices.

Scoring 1,000 points has given Carpenter reinvigorated confidence in herself and in how her teammates can depend on her.

“It proves that if I want it badly, then it can happen,” said Carpenter. “It proves to them that I’m capable, and it gives us our last push that we need going into the final stretch.”